Jeremy McWilliams to race in Moto2 – aged 50!!

Jeremy McWilliams is to make a shock world championship comeback in next weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The former 250GP winner is to ride the experimental Brough Superior in the Moto2 race, just four months after celebrating his 50th birthday.

Moto2 age limit regulations state: ‘For the Moto2 riders, the limit for the maximum age finishes at the end of the year in which the rider reaches the age of 50.’

McWilliams is eligible to compete against the likes of Tito Rabat, Mika Kallio, Maverick Vinales and Sam Lowes, and 2014 is his last opportunity to make a GP appearance.

The Irish rider last raced in the world championship paddock in 2007 when he was part of the disastrous Ilmor MotoGP project.

McWilliams, who recently raced on the support schedule at Indianapolis and won a Harley-Davidson Series on an XR1200, gave a hint of his surprise Moto2 ride at Silverstone when he tweeted a picture of the Brough Superior project from a Mallory Park test day yesterday.

Suspicion about the Bennetts-backed was aroused further when a provisional entry list for Silverstone was sent to MCN, with the Brough Superior entry ‘to be advised’.The iconic Brough Superior name was to be returned to racing by Luke Mossey, who races in the British Supersport series.

The Brough Superior Carbon 2 project is headed by California-based Brits Paul Taylor and John Keogh and features a unique carbon fibre monocoque design.Currently the oldest rider competing in Moto2 is Aussie Anthony West, who is 33.